The Royal Oak, Bexleyheath

There were three ales on in here - Doom Bar, Master Brew, and Wells A Good Stuffing (£1.80 a half). This a reasonable selection without being anything too special. The Good Stuffing is obviously a Christmas ale, and was actually rather good. There was a small chalkboard propped up on the bar counter advertising three lunch specials of the day (chilli/rice; beef stew; and cottage pie) all for a fiver a pop. There was also a rolled up menu in a jar on one of the other tables, but I didn't examine it. This pub has an alter ego - Polly Clean Stairs, and so named after a 19th Century landlady who seemed to be obsessive about cleaning the pub's steps. This is another cracking little pub in this general area, where it has to be said isn't exactly overendowed with great pubs. It's carpeted (apart from a bare-boarded splash area around the bar counter) and furnished with settles, small round stools, and normal tables and chairs. Black painted beams/posts on the walls and ceiling, coupled with cream painted walls give it a "brewer's rustic" appearance, but it's not overdone here and doesn't look out of place. Apart from the main bar area to the front and left of the servery, there's another small room on the left that seems to be as a result of an extension to the pub at some stage. There are all manner of knick knacks around the place, making it more interesting - to me at least. This is definitely a locals' pub, and I reckon they're lucky to have such a characterful pub as their local. This is another one that's worth going out of your way to visit if you're anywhere nearby.

Official site of the Royal Oak - theroyaloakbexleyheath.co.uk

Official site of the Royal Oak - theroyaloakbexleyheath.co.uk